A recent episode of BBC’s Question Time featured a fiery exchange as Reform UK Chairman Zia Yusuf leveled severe accusations against the Green Party, claiming the political organization has become a “poisonous vessel for extremism and anti-Semitism.”

During the televised panel discussion, Yusuf directed heavy criticism at the Green Party’s leadership and its recent electoral candidates, arguing that the party has strayed from its environmental roots and has been “hijacked by extremists.”

To support his claims, Yusuf cited several recent controversies involving Green Party members. He pointed to the reported arrest of two Green Party councilor candidates over alleged anti-Semitic comments, noting that one candidate allegedly described a recent stabbing in the heavily Jewish neighborhood of Golders Green as “revenge, not anti-Semitism.”

Yusuf also targeted senior figures within the Green Party. He claimed that Mosin Ali, described as a deputy leader figure, characterized the October 7th attacks by Hamas—which resulted in the deaths of over a thousand civilians—as simply “fighting back.” Furthermore, Yusuf heavily criticized Green Party Deputy Leader Zack Polanski for allegedly questioning whether the threat to Jewish safety in the UK was a “real concern” or merely a “perceived concern of unsafety.”

In a direct rebuttal to Polanski’s alleged stance, Yusuf highlighted a string of violent and discriminatory incidents targeting the UK’s Jewish community. He cited the 3,700 anti-Semitic incidents recorded in the previous year, the arson of two Jewish charity ambulances, and the recent stabbing of two Jewish men in Golders Green, who he noted were fighting for their lives.

“I’m afraid the Green Party is no longer a party for those who care deeply about the environment,” Yusuf stated to the audience. “It has been hijacked by extremists and is a vehicle for sectarianism. And I’m afraid Zack Polanski should be ashamed of himself.”

The viral circulation of the Question Time segment highlights the intensifying political rhetoric surrounding the Israel-Gaza conflict and its domestic fallout in the UK. The accusations touch upon highly sensitive national concerns regarding rising anti-Semitism and the rhetoric utilized by political factions. The Green Party has faced increasing scrutiny over its internal vetting processes and the public statements of its members as it continues to poll strongly in various national demographics.